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Is salmonella really that bad?

Kilojara16

Kilojara16

Reptile Cartoonist
One of my only fears of reptiles is the possiblity of contracting salmonella. I don't hear of any recent cases, but it still is a small concern to me. When I finally get a cornsnake (Who knows when that will be?), I'd really like to hang out with it a lot, like maybe let it sit on the couch or on my chair. I know the number one thing is to wash your hands before and after handling, but would I have to like disinfect the furniture after every time I'd let it crawl on it. And another thing, Do most of you bathe your corns in the same tub you do (Not at the same time of course)? Would that be a hazard to unless you clean and disinfect the tub after the snake's bath and before yours?
 
You're definitely right about washing your hands after touching a snake (or any reptile) to avoid getting salmonella. However, you do not need to disinfect the furniture it's touched. If a reptile has been on anything that you plan to put in your mouth or use to handle your food later, then wash it. Otherwise, don't worry.

I bathe my corn snake in the same tub that I use myself. I do not clean or disinfect it after my snake has used it unless he pooped in it. That should be common sense. I know of absolutely no risk in allowing them to use the same tub. Until your snake is fairly large, though, it is probably more convenient to use something smaller to bathe the snake. For a hatchling, I've used to tupperware container that I filled with lukewarm water. My four foot long snake uses the tub. :)
 
My take on this...

I am probably not quite as civilized as most folks on this forum. I grew up in a tropical country, running barefoot in the wild nature, catching all types of creatures, including snakes, and then climbing tees to eat their fruit, and only washing my hands when my parents rounded me up at meal times. I have also been consuming undercooked or raw meats and eggs since babyhood. I don't take precautions when handling my snakes, lizards, mice or canaries and I'm still around at 42. I'm certain I must have been exposed to salmonella and E. coli thoughout my life, but either I've developed immunity to them or I just haven't encountered particularly virulent strains.
I'd say use your own judgement, and enjoy your snakes.
 
Could be right Liz, they reckon a child who is alway's playing around in the muck has a stronger immune system than a child who is never allowed to get dirty. Even so you just never know, as long as you wash your hand's before and after handling your snake's or anything to do with them, you should be ok. Probably more chance of catching salmonella off undercooked food.
 
from what i've heard salmonella ranks right up there with a really nasty stomach virus, but worse. (prepare to enjoy your bathrooms decor for extended periods) so, wash your hands, wash your tub and never put your snake in your mouth. :) of course i'm often guilty of not following 2 of those rules (you guess which 2) and still alive so.... do as i say and not as i do!!! lol have a good one, jim
 
Salmonella in most cases does cause little more problem than stomach cramps, vomiting and diarrhea, but in the very young, the very old, pregnant women or those with impaired immune systems it can be a real threat. The best advice has already been given: wash your hands. To be safe, take extra precautions if you have a young child or a person with any of the the above conditions around your reptile.
 
Everybody is different when it comes to catching these stomach problems. You do develop an immunity to them in cases such as Liz. So the only advice I would give is to take the precautions that you feel comfortable with. If you get ill, you need to take more !!!!!!!
 
Carriers

Lots of snakes don't even have salmonella though. About 20-70% (There hasn't been much good research) of all snakes carry salmonella, but that does include wild snakes. I'd guess that the stats are much lower for most captive-born, 2nd or 3rd generation reptiles, especially from clean and reputable breeders. (i.e. our generous host.)

In comparison, around 1 in 500-1000 chicken eggs is infected. Not bad, until you consider that between 36 to 76% of raw chickens (depending on the study) are also carriers. Campylobacter, another nasty bacteria that causes many of the same problems as salmonella, occurrs in up to 83 percent of chickens tested from grocery stores. Several other types of bacteria sometimes found on chicken can cause other problems, everything from spontaneous abortions to meningitis. One of these bacteria has a higher death rate than botulism.

About 4 million salmonella infections, the vast majority from poultry, occur every year in the US. Working in a poultry plant, in fact, ranks as the 28th most dangerous occupation in the nation for job-related injuries and illnesses. This tops jobs in mining, farming and construction.

I'm willing to bet that a fair number of salmonella infections are unfairly blamed on reptiles, and that a whole lot of unreported incidents occurr due to poorly cooked food, or salad touching the ckicken cutting board, or the like.

Thing is, lots of people "know" that reptiles carry salmonilla because stories and awareness campains are run, but the fact that just this last thanksgiving about half of raw turkeys were found with infected is not particularly well publicized. Its far more "interesting" to run stories on how Fluffy the 19 foot python poisoned little Lucy-the-toddler than it is to tell people to be more careful in the kitchen. 'Sides which, poultry and egg sale was a $15 billion industry even way back in '89. Not exactly a lobbying force on par with the, say, the AARP, but still an industry to be reckoned with.

Which isn't to say you shouldn't be careful with reptiles! Several hundred young kids picked up a turtle-carried strain of salmonella in the 80's, I think. But the danger presented by captive born reptiles is usually blown out of proportion compared with the much larger incidence of kitchen-variety salmonella. So like everyone's been saying, wash your hands after petting fluffy. But also cook your chickens, before or after they're hatched. ;)

Cheers,
TS


*****

The more I learn about terrorism,
the more I understand the phone company.
 
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Salmonella really is that bad, really.

Ok, i dont know about the whole salmonella and reptiles thing. Personally, i think it the Herpephobes trying to destroy our blessed and sacred reptile culture. BUT, i have had salmonella that i got from undercooked chicken when i was like ten. It is one of the only things i remember from that time period. It lasted about two weeks. I constantly felt like i needed to blow up the toilet, but when i got there, nothing came out. On top of that, i couldnt keep anything down. I think i had a pretty nasty fever too. Anyways, it was bad. I ll do whatever it takes NOT to ever have it again. I wash my hands after looking at my snakes. :p
 
herpeto-phobia

= Fear of reptiles or amphibians.

herpeto = reptile, amphibian
phob = fearing
ia = condition

patho-phobia = A fear of disease

So excessive fear of catching a disease from a snake would be:

Patho-herpeto-phobia

one would be considered:

Patho-herpeto-phobic.

I also may have just Made that up. ;)
 
i think the term you are actually looking for is ophidiophobia. (fear of snakes) not sure about reptiles in general
 
Oops, no one told me about Sallomenella

Or whatever.

I've been handling my snake while I eat, and clean it's cage and whatnot!

But then again, I do live in SA and here you tought everything whilst eating. If you get sick it's your own stupid fault!

But maybe that's just my Afrikaner wize-arse talking.

I'll definately be washing myself from now on. No-more taking my snake to coffe shops and what-not!

Thanx, they should actually warn you about stuff like that, the only info I received in relation to disseases is what to do to keep my corn from getting ill.

So now my corn'll stay healthy I'll have to stock up on TP!

HEHE!;)
 
Fun with words...lets try this again...

herpetophobia (her·peto·pho·bia)
irrational fear of reptiles or amphibians.
(reptiles in general)

ophidiophobia
Morbid fear of snakes.
(snakes in particular)

So someone with the morbid fear of catching a disease from a Snake might possibly be described as being

Patho-ophidio-phobic
or perhaps
Ophidio-Patho-Phobic.

Or as we like to call that person in my house with that particular affliction, "Gramma".

;):)
 
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